I read this weekend about a new law that is being proposed into state legislation this week here in California. As you might recall, a few weeks ago, I wrote about California considering putting a ban on spanking. Now, a law is being proposed that would require all high school seniors who are 18 at the time of graduation to be forced to register to vote in order to get to graduate. I think this is ludicrous. Do I think more people should vote? Of course. However, I think that making them register is just a waste of time. There are tons of people who are registered who don't vote. I don't think it will cause some dramatic rise in the number of people who will be voting. Voting is a very important right and I think everyone who qualifies should do it. I just don't think this is the way to accomplish it.
8 comments:
Voting is a priviledge. I believe young people should be taught the importance of voting and perhaps given the opportunity to register while still at school. Forcing them to register is another matter altogether and I don't agree.
I agree with Nani. Voting is a privilege, but also a choice.
Maybe they just want to expand their base for jury duty. I never got called for it until I registered to vote. They say it's based on driver's licenses but I think that's a myth.
I don't think registering to vote should be forced on anyone. The government is trying to control way to much. Sonja it is driver's licenses. My husband was called for jury duty long before he ever became a registered voter.
Sometimes people don't register because they are lazy to go to the post office and fill the paperwork. I don't think it should be a law but I bet you that many students would gladly register to vote if they had the paper right in front their noses.
I took me over 13 year from the moment I filed for my citizenship to the moment I became a citizen, it was a long and timely process not to mention costly. I'll be darn if after waiting for so long I miss out on voting.
The government is getting really scary! Trying to force any American to do anything just isn't going to work!
I was wondering that if we do documentaries in other countries where people or certain people can't vote and show them in classes, then maybe young Americans would be inspired to vote. We are all too spoiled. We have to be inspired, not forced. We have to be reminded of what we have, and don't want to go back to.
They shouldn't be forced. Still, I think something optional would be good, because experience tells me that its apathy to the requirements, and not an conscious expression, that prevents most from registering.
If kids had to register to vote as an exercise in government class, worse things could happen. The new adults in this nation need to be taught they count and what they say matters. If you put the pen and paper in their hand and "encourage" them to register, they may be that more apt to vote in the next election. We need to create an environment where voting is not just something one can do, but something that NEEDS to be done each and every time. I can't see how this could be a bad thing.
Nani - Agreed!
Sonja - My dad used to get notices for jury duty all the time when he wasn't yet a citizen and hence, was not registered.
Mom - Crazy government!
Jose - Congrats!
CB - Very good point!
Battlerocker - Yeah, opioanl is always ok.
Kel - I agree with giving them the forms in class. But I still don't think it should be a requirement. I don't think that it will really cause kids to vote just because they were forced to register.
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